Refrigerating system for cars



Sept. 8, 1931.

c. A. MooRE REFRIGERATING SYSTEM FOB CARS Filed April l24 1929 4Sheets-Sheet l 31a/vanto@ i A ME sept. s, 1931.

C. A. MOORE REFRIGEHATING SYSTEM FOR CARS Filed April 24, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 2 YI' yN u Y g b y d d5 b -1 l '-4 .7

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gwufmtoz Charlas A. Moore Sept. 8, 1931. c. A. MooRE REFRIGERATINGSYSTEM FOR CARS Filed April 24, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Charles A. MoorePatented sept. s, 1931 CHARLES A. MOORE, 0F EDINA, MINNESOTAREFRIGERATING SYSTEM FOR CARS Application led April 2'4,

My invention relates to improvements in refrigerating and Ventilatingsystems forrefrigerator cars.

Generally, it is my object to provide simple, durable and effectivemeans in a car or other enclosure for refrigerating the goods in thelading space and for circulating the air therein and Ventilating thesame.

In practice, and particularly in refrigerator cars, it is desirable, toavoid the use of fans for Ventilating the lading space and circulatingthe air therein, and when a fluid circulatory system is employed, it isdesirable not only to avoid the use of a pump in the system, but also toprovide a system in which the temperature of the fluid may be reducedeffectively as my means of a quantity of ordinary ice or the modernlymanufactured solid carbon dioxide.

More particularly, it is my object to provide a circulatory system for aheat exchanging fluid and a refrigerating medium for cooling such fluid,the two being so arranged within a car or other enclosure as to causethe circulation of air therein and the circulation of the fluid in saidsystem, all by gravity.

Another object is to supply, 1n such a combination, means for causingthe regulated introduction of fresh air to the car and the regulatedexhaustion of used air therefrom, by gravity.

A further object is to provide in the circulatory system, an assembly ofindependent units each adapted to be controlled independently of theother, whereby refrigeration, as effected by the said circulatorysystem, may be regulated to suit varying conditions.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear in thefollowing description, the invention resides in the novel combinationand arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central sectional view of arefrigerator car containing therein equipment embodying my invention;Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken as on the line 2-2 of Fig.1; Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views taken as on the lines 3 3and 4 4 of Fig. 1,

1929. Serial No. 357,696.

respectively, and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view particularlyillustrating the construction of the circulatory system for therefrigerating fluid.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that theillustrated structure includes an ordinary refrigerator car c0111-prising a body A and trucks 10 therefor, the body consisting of theusual insulated floor 11, sides 12, ends 13 and roof 14. lVithin the caris a false end 15 and a false Hoor B, the latter being of openworkconstruction and consisting of spaced transverse slats 16 secured tospaced timbers 17 laid edgewise on the floor proper 11, lengthwise ofthe car. The false end 15 provides a bunker compartment C at one end ofthe lading chamber D and the false floor B provides a refrigerating andair circulating space E beneath said lading chamber, which space isdivided into sections by the timbers 17. The false end 15 stops short ofthe ceiling of the car leaving an opening 18 between the upper portionof the lading chamber D and the upper portion of the bunker compartmentC, which provides communication between said chamber and compartment.Said false end 15 also falls short of the floor 11 of the car, leaving:In opening 19 between the lower portion of the bunker compartment C andthe space E between the floor proper 11 and the false floor B. whichprovides communication between said compartment C and space E. Withinthe bunker compartment C are a number of sills 20 supporting boards 21upon which a tank 22 rests. The sides and ends of this tank are spacedfrom the sides and ends of the bunker compartment C to permit of thepassage of air through the compartment and about said tank. Coiled aboutthe tank are a number of pipes 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27, the upper end ofeach pipe taking off from an upright header 28 near the top of the tank22. From a point near the bottom of the tank 22 each pipe has a reachextending through the space E to the end of the car opposite thecompartment C and has a return reach, at slightly higher elevation,extending back toward said compartment. This return reach branchesupwardly between the false end 15 of an insulating panel 29, thenceconnects with said header 28, the upwardly extending branch of each ofsaid pipes being fitted with a suitable valve 30. The header 28communicates at its upper end with a supply and expansion reservoir 31having a filler neck 32 extending upwardly through the roofl 14 of thecar.

Within the compartment C and at the ends thereof and adjacent to theends of the tank 22 are two upright Ventilating ducts 33 and 34, whichare provided with dampers 35 and 36, respectively. Duct 33 communicatesat its upper end with the outer atmosphere through the end of the car,and at its lower end with the interior of compartment C at the lowerortion thereof. Duct 34 communicates at 1ts upper end with the interiorof the compartment C at the upper portion thereof and communicates atits lower end, through the floor of the car, with the outer atmosphere.

Ice, with or without salt, or a substitute therefor, such as dry ice isplaced in the tank 22. The circulatory system consisting of the pipes23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 is supplied with a suitable heat exchanging liquidby introducing such liquid into the reservoir 31 and through the header28 to said pipes.

The refrigerating medium in the tank 22 reduces the temperature of theair about the tank and reduces the temperature of the liquid in thepipes encircling the tank. In thus cooling the pipes at the tank 22, theliquid in said ipes is caused to gravitate through the coi ed pipeportions in the compartment C, through the reaches of pipe in `the spaceE beneath the false floor B, and through the upright branches of saidpipes returning to the upper ends of the coils at the tank. The air inthe compartment C about the tank 22 descends upon bein cooled and entersthe space E beneath the alse floor B, where it is further cooled aboutthe reaches of pipe in said space. This air, in taking the place of thewarmed air, drawn into the upper portion of the compartment C from theupper portion of the lading chamber D, passes upward through the falseiloor B into the lading space where it refrigerates the goods locatedtherein. Rising in this space as its temperature is increased in thepresence of the lading, the air reaches the upper portion of the chamberD and is thence impelled into the upper portion of the compartment C byreason of the down flow of air therein about the coiled pipes and tank.Thus, the refrigerating medium in the compartment C serves, not only torefrigerate the aii` therein and cause it to circulate through thestructure as explained, but also refrigerates the liquid in the portionsof the pipes 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 coiled about the tank, causing theliquid to circulate in said pipes and keep cold the reaches thereofwithin the space E beneath the false oor B.

The different units of the assembly may be independently controlled, atwill, by suitably manipulating the valves 30, it being ossible byadjusting these valves, selectivey, to graduate or entirely cut off theflow of the liquid through the pipe reaches in the different sections ofthe space E between the different timbers 17, beneath the false floor B.Thus, the effectiveness of the different. units in the'circulatorysystem may be uniformly altered at will, or varied independently, asdesired, to accommodate non-uniform loadings.

The manner employed in the coiling of the pipes about the tank 22provides a maximum length of contact between tank and pipes and at thesame time provides a relatively sharp pitch in the coils, whereby anactive circulation of the liquid in the pipes is assured.

While I have shown a tank for a refrigerating medium about which thepipes 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 are coiled, it will be understood that thetank may be dispensed with and the pipes themselves or any othersuitable receptacle within the coils may be employed to contain tleparticular refrigerating medium emp o e l Yhen the dampers 35 and 36 inducts 33 and 34 are opened, fresh air gravitates into the lower portionof compartment C and used air gravitates out of the car from the upperportion of said compartment, the temperature of the air within saidducts being affected by the refrigerating medium employed within thatcompartment. By appropriately regulating these dampers 35 and 36 the carwill be ventilated in the desired degree.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, maybe made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of my invention- Having described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a structure providing a chamber for lading and acompartment adjacent thereto, the chamber being in communication at itsupper portion with the upper portion of the compartment and at its lowerportion with the lower portion of said compartment, a circulatory systemconsisty within said compartment, one aningress duct communicating atits upper end with outer atmosphereand at its lower end with the lowerportion of said compartment, the other, an egress duct commumcating atits upper end with the upper portion of said compartment and at itslower end with the outer atmosphere. y

2. In combination, a structure providing a chamber for lading and acompartment adjacent thereto, a false openwork floor in said chamberproviding an air space beneath the storage space therein, thecompartment being in communication at its upper portion with the upperportion of the chamber and at its lower portion with said air space atthe bottom of said chamber, an upright container within said compartmentfor a refrigerating medium, a circulatory system consisting of a numberof pipes arranged to convey a refrigerating liquid from the upperportion to the compartment to thelower portion thereof, thence alongsaid air space at the bottom of said chamber and thence back to theupper portion of said compartment, those portions of said ipes withinthe compartment being coiled about said container, and a mei dium in thecontainer for refrigerating the air in said compartment and the liquidwithin said pipes.,

3. In combination, a structure providing a chamber for lading and acompartment adjacent one end thereof, a false openwork floor insaidlchamber providing an air space beneath the storage space therein,the compartment being in communication at its upper portion with theupper portion of the chamber and at its lower portion with said airspace in said compartment, partitions dividing said air space intosections, a circulatory system consisting of a number of pipes arrangedto convey a refrigerating liquid from the upper portion of thecompartment to theV lower portion thereof, thence along said air spaceat the bottom of said chamber and back and, thence upwardly returning tothe upper portion of said compartment, one of said pipes being disposedin each of the sections of said air space, and a medium in thecompartment for refrigerating the air therein and the liquid within saidpipes.

4. In combination, a structure providing a chamber for lading and acompartment adjacent one end thereof, a false openwork floor in saidchamber providing an air space beneath the storage space therein, thecompartment being in communication at its upper portion with the upperportion of thecham ber and at its lower portion with said air space insaid compartment, said floor consisting of flooring members and spacedsupports therefor extending longitudinally of the chamber, said supportsforming partitions in and dividing said air space into sections` acirculatory system consisting of a number of pipes arranged to convey arefrigerating liquid from the upper portion of the compartment to thelower portion thereof, thence along said air space at' the bottom ofsaid chamber and back and, thence upwardly returning to the upperlportion of said compartment, one of said pipes being extended alone eachof the sections of said air space, a valli/e in each of said pipes, anda medium in the compartment for refrigeratin the air therein and theliquid within said plpes.

5. Inrcombination, a structure providing a chamber for lading and acompartment adjacent thereto, the chamber being in communication at itsupper portion with. the upper portion of the compartment and at its owerportion with thelower portion of said compartment, a circulatorysystemconsisting of a number of pipes arranged to convey a refrigeratingliquid from the upper portion of the compartment to the lower portionthereof, thence along the bottom of said chamber and thence back to theupper portion of said compartment, those portions of the pipes withinthe compartment being coiled, the loops thereof being interjacent andspaced from the sides of said compartment, and a medium encircled by thecoiled. portions of said pipes for refrigeratin the air in thecompartment and the liqui within said pipes.

6. In combination, a structure providing a chamber for lading and acompartment adjacent thereto, the chamber being in communication at itsupper portion with the upper portion of the compartment and at its lowerportion with the lower portion of said compartment, a circulatory systemconsisting of a number of pipes arranged to convey a refrigeratingliquid from the upper portion of the compartment to the lower portionthereof, thence lalong the bottom of said chamber and back and, thenceupwardly, returning to the Lipper portion of said compartment, and amedium in the compartment for refrigerating the air therein and theliquid within said pipes, the upwardly returning reaches of said pipesbeing insulated from the refrigerating medium.

7. In combination,

a structure providing a chamber for lading and a compartment adjacentthereto, the chamber being in communication at its upper portion withthe upper portion of the compartment and at its lowerportion with thelower portion of said compartment, a circulatory system comprising meansfor conveying a refrigerating liquid from the upper portion of thecompartment to the lower portion thereof, thence into said chamber andback, returning to the upper portion of said compartment, and a mediumin the compartment for refrigerating the air therein and the contents ofthe liquid conveying means, said medium being surrounded by saidconveying means.

8. In combination, an enclosure providing a chamber for vlading and acompartment adjacent thereto, the chamber being in com- I muuu-ation atits upper portion with the Cii upper portion of the compartment and atitslower portion with the lower portion of 'said compartment, acirculatory system consistiug of a number of pipes arranged individuallyto convey a refrigerating liquid from the upper portion of thecompartment to the lower portion thereof, thence along the bottom ofsaid chamber and thence back to the upper portion of said compartment, amedium in the compartment for refrigerating the air therein and theliquid within said pipes, said medium being surrounded by said pipes andeach pipe having a'valve there- 1n.

' 9. In combination, an enclosure providing a chamber for lading and acompartment adjacent thereto, the chamber being in communication at itsupper portion with the upper portion of the compartment and at its lowerportion with the lower portion of said compartment, a circulatory systemconsisting of means adapted to convey a refrigerating liquid from theupper portion of the compa rt nient to the lower portion thereof, thencealong the bottom of said chamber and thence back to the upper portion ofsaid compartment, a medium within the compartment'for refrigerating theair therein and the contents of said liquid conveying means, two uprightducts within said compartment, one an ingress duct communicating at itsupper end with the outer atmosphere and at its lower end with the lowerportion of said compartment, the other communicating at its upper endwith the upper portion of said compartment and atits lower end withtheouter atmosphere, and a damper in one of said ducts.

10. In combination, a structure providing a chamber for lading and acompartment adjacent thereto, the chamber being in communication at itsupper portion with the upper portion of the compartment and at its lowerportion vwith the lower portion of said compartment, a circulatorysystem consisting of a number of pipes for conveying a heat exchangingliquid from the .one portion of the compartment to another portionthereof at a different elevation, thence `into said chamber and back,returning to point of beginning in said compartment,

each pipe comprising an independent cir` 'culatory unit, and a medium inthe compartment for affecting the temperature of the air 'therein and ofthe liquid within said pipes,

said pipes, withinsaidpompartment having turns 1n interjacent relation.

partment, a circulatory system comprising means for conveying a liquidfrom the upper portion of the compartment to the lower portin thereof,thence into the chamber and back to the upper portion of thecompa-rtment, said 'liquid conveying means surrounding the container,and a medium' in said contalner for refrigerating the a1r 1n saidcompartment and the contentsof said liquid conveying means.

In testimony whereof I have aixed my signature to this specification.

CHARLES A. MOORE.

11. In combination, a structure providing a chamber for lading andacompartment adjacent thereto, the compartment being `in communicationat its upper portion with the upper portion of the chamber and at itslower portion .with the lower portion of the chamber, an uprightcontainer within the corn-

